Respect on campus

All students and staff have the right to feel respected, safe and supported. DMU and DSU are committed to providing and promoting an environment which is free from harassment and discrimination. Unwanted sexual comments, advances or assaults have no place at DMU or anywhere else.

This type of behaviour is unacceptable.

That’s why we have launched The Mandala Project to ask students and staff to join us in making it clear that unacceptable, threatening or violent behaviour breaches DMU regulations. Don’t be a bystander, it’s up to all us to ensure that this does not happen by challenging inappropriate behaviour and reflecting on the way we treat others. We all have a responsibility to treat each other with respect.

Women are more likely to be victims of such incidents than men. Research shows an increase in so-called “lad culture” and “banter” on university campuses, which normalise sexist, demeaning language, physical assaults or harassment. However, statistics show that reports of assaults on men are on the rise. Regardless of your gender, sexual assault and harassment is never ok.

We all have a part to play to challenge inappropriate behaviour and to support victims & survivors of abuse. This video (certificated 15) is part of the ‘All is Not Lost’ campaign run by Leicestershire Police helps us to challenge our perceptions about sexual assault:

We aim to empower our students and staff to feel confident to challenge inappropriate behaviours or situations which could escalate into harassment. We are also expanding our welfare service to offer more support to students who would like to confide in us.

Contact The Mandala Project by email at themandalaproject@dmu.ac.uk or by phone on 0116 207 8309. Out of hours or when the university is closed, you can contact security on 0116 257 7642. This is a 24-hour phone line available throughout the year.